EUNICE HOUSING A 'DRUG FREE' ZONE

EUNICE - The Eunice City Council has decided to do nothing about a request
by the Eunice Housing Authority to declare it's four housing complexes
"drug free zones."

It doesn't have too.

Kelly McFarlain, housing authority executive director, came before the
council last month asking for the action to fight what he described as
serious drug problems.

At the request of City Attorney Jacque Pucheu Jr. the council put off a
vote then to give him time to research the law.

"It's amazing what you find when you read the law," Pucheu said this month.
The law as written gives housing authorities the power to take this action
on their own.

"It is my understanding that Mr. McFarlain is going to take it on himself
to post signs in the next 30 days," Pucheu told the council.

Once the signs are posted any drug law violations by anyone in or within
1,000 feet of the four complexes will suffer increased penalties.

"It doubles the time and doubles the fine," said Police Chief Gary Fontenot.

McFarlain believes much of the problem comes from outsiders who come to
sell or pawn drugs.